08_06_2018

Multiple Pleasures of Rain

                Sometimes you just discover genuine pleasures by pure accident.  Several years ago I fell upon an experience that has since become one of my goals each summer.  As I have shared in previous Blogs, I over time have become what I describe as an avid gardener which means that I spend a fair amount of time outside every day in the summer.

From May through September I find myself tending to gardening tasks on a daily basis.  Mostly I am watering, but there are a host of other elements that need attention: trimming and cutting back growth that gets out of hand; fertilizing at least every two weeks and more often in hot, dry spells; weaving vines into their intended paths; cutting the grass; and, of course, the inevitable weeding.

I don’t remember the exact date or summer when my attention to rain began, but here’s how it evolved.  As I was working outside, the skies were looking more and more ominous, and I was pretty sure rain wasn’t that far behind.  So I grabbed one of the patio chairs and moved it up to my very small back porch….barely large enough to hold one chair and a small table.  I wasn’t thinking so much about the incoming rain as I was somewhat ready for a break and I knew I needed to cool down before going inside.  It’s amazing how yard work can get your heart rate going; when I cut the grass, my Fitbit watch records the exercise as “riding a bike” and I typically earn more than 5000 steps by the time I’m finished.

Anyway, as I was sitting on the porch, the heavens opened up and I found myself almost mesmerized by just sitting and watching the rain.  I was awestruck by its magic….being close to a rain storm offers multiple layers of sensual pleasure.   When you are actually paying attention, you can actually SEE the rain as it falls, you can HEAR it, you can TOUCH it, you can actually SMELL its freshness, and I suppose you can TASTE it but I don’t often do that.

Usually RAIN is something we try to run from and I often hear people complain about a rainy day.  When I’m driving in rain, I do experience it with some level of awareness, but mostly I’m just trying to cope with it versus just taking the time to appreciate it.

Here’s what I discovered the first time I just actually sat and enjoyed the rain as an adult.  Being fully present as the rain was falling actually led to my being aware that I was conscious of experiencing Summer!  I know this may sound weird at first read if you’ve not had a similar experience, but when it happens to you, you will understand what I am describing.

I experience rain differently in the Fall months.  First of all, I am more likely inside when it is rainy as Fall temperatures usually combine with rain in a way that chill one fairly rapidly.  Inside one’s home, you can look out through the windows which are streaked with water.  Depending on the direction that the rain is coming from, you can actually see the drops as they hit the windows.  In heavy rainy storms with lots of winds, I can actually see sheets of rain blowing sideways.  Rainy Fall days feel incredibly cozy to me.  The grayness outside is offset by the soft lights inside, creating an inviting atmosphere of warmth and soothing pleasure.  The chill in the air serves as an incentive to dig out the slow cooker along with my favorite soup recipes.   Soft music in the background,  a stack of good books to choose from, and a comfortable blanket at hand in the event an afternoon nap is called for all make for a very inviting and treasured day at home.

Growing up in the Midwest and now living in New England, I have the pleasure of experiencing different Seasons throughout the year.  I decorate my home – inside and out – to help acknowledge the Seasons, but I truly look forward to marking each Season as it occurs with occasions in which I’m fully present with the experience.

So I am typically aware of wanting that full experience as each Season begins to unfold.  Without dwelling on when such experiences might occur, I am mindful of the absence of such an experience but I’m also open to new ways of experiencing the Seasons.

So it’s early August, and I’ve been aware that I hadn’t had my rain experience yet this summer. There were a couple of times when I thought the right elements were aligned for the experience but either it didn’t rain for very long, or it was a very light rain for  a short time, etc.  But, sure enough, last Friday night I was determined to mow the grass.  We’ve been in the midst of long heat waves in New England since early July, so finding the right opportunities to do serious physical activity when the days are in the 90s and the Dew Point is over 70 can be a real challenge.

Typically I have to psyche myself up, mentally preparing myself in my air-conditioned environment that the heat and humidity are more tolerable in the early morning and late evenings, so cutting the grass won’t be all that big of deal.  It typically takes me an hour or more, so I get a pretty good workout.  So on Friday evening, I started by cutting the front yard which is the lion’s share of my yard.  I decided to take a break, hydrate a bit, and then get the blower out to clear the driveway and walkways of all of the leaves, twigs, acorns, etc. that collect in those areas.

As I was winding up the extension cord once I finished clearing the driveway, I noticed that the sky was beginning to look dark.  But I didn’t think so much about the possibility of rain as I had checked my weather APP before going outside and there were no predictions of rain.  But the more I observed the sky, the more I thought we might be in for some heavy rain.  I ran and grabbed a patio chair and placed it on the porch under the roof overhang, and waited.  Within seconds, the rain came pouring down, and I KNEW that I was in the midst of my pure enjoyment of Summer.  It was wonderful to enjoy the sensory experience, and to take a moment to be in awe and to express gratitude that our world offers us water to care for our planet and ourselves.  Have you ever experienced hearing the rain before you see it?  Well, in Summer, during a “straight down rainfall” you hear it before you see it or feel it as it hits the leaves on the way to the ground.  It’s a fun and unique sound to hear, so listen for it when you get a chance.

I have other experiences like rainfall that fill my longing for deeper experiences of the Seasons.  I love sitting out in my back yard which is surrounded by my neighbors’ trees.    I love watching the upper branches gently bend and sway in the evening breezes.  Watching the squirrels climb and jump from tree to tree is also a fun ritual.

So I anticipate that you might be asking yourself, why is she writing about rainfall and how does it fit into Still Evolving.  Good, fair question, and I’m happy to respond.  Part of Still Evolving is fed by experiencing life with some of the same Joy and Awe that we had as children discovering new experiences.  As we age, we can still find those times and experiences IF we take the time to be AWARE and Fully Present when they offer themselves.

If your awareness works in ways that are similar to mine, you’ll find that once you experience elements of life with more awareness, those experiences will prompt you to be more aware.  Being more aware opens one up to experience deeper levels of enjoyment and gratitude.

Maybe you’ll look at the next rainy day a little differently!